Monrovia, Liberia – The Monrovia City Hall recently became the center of an important dialogue as dozens of adolescent girls and young people gathered to engage government officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), donor organizations, school administrators, and community leaders in addressing the challenges affecting them.
By Mae Azango [email protected]
The event, a Call to Action Review, was organized by Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI) in partnership with the Global Fund for Children as a follow-up to the Adolescent Girls Summit held last year in Liberia. The summit had brought together 121 young people from 10 West African countries, highlighting critical issues such as early marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), teenage pregnancy, the inclusion of sexual education in school curricula, and access to free sanitary pads for adolescent girls.
Youth-Led Initiative Calls for Policy Action
Unlike traditional forums, this event was planned and organized entirely by young people, who extended invitations to key government agencies, including the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Gender, Education, and Health, as well as the House of Representatives’ Committee on Gender. Their goal was to push for concrete actions, such as educating citizens on the negative consequences of female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC) and advocating for the adoption and enforcement of laws banning the practice across West Africa.
The forum featured interactive panel discussions, where young people posed direct questions to government officials, CSO representatives, and donors. Many of these concerns were addressed, with stakeholders pledging to amplify the youths’ demands and work toward sustainable solutions.
Young Leaders Speak Out
Ms. Jameline Gbapea, Global Board Chair for the SheLeads Project, emphasized the importance of young people taking charge of their own advocacy efforts.
“We are speaking out for our basic rights, including the fight against FGM, teen pregnancy, and the need for free sanitary pads in schools. It is time adolescent girls stand up for our rights. We must stop thinking that we are too young to lead or take initiatives. We can start in our schools, communities, and wherever we find ourselves. By discussing our problems and engaging our peers and mentors, we can bring about change,” she said.
Gbapea highlighted how the SheLeads Project empowers young women in schools and institutions by providing support and motivation for them to take on leadership roles. Inspired by the Girls Summit, she launched the Teens Association Program in her community and hosted a Teen Lecture Series last December.
“SheLeads has helped build my leadership skills, and the Girls Summit has awakened me to do more and push forward,” she added.
Empowering Young People Through Leadership
CHI Executive Director Naomi T. Solanke underscored the importance of allowing young people to lead their own initiatives.
“Getting adolescents and young people to plan their own programs is a powerful way to empower them. They organized, moderated, and invited stakeholders to engage. Our role was only to facilitate—the rest, they did on their own,” she explained.
Solanke noted that CHI has worked with adolescent girls and young people for over three years, mentoring them and hosting annual summits to encourage them to speak out and hold leaders accountable. This year’s review gathered students from six schools, with a total of 186 young participants—98% of whom were adolescents. CHI currently operates in Montserrado, Margibi, Sinoe, and Gbarpolu Counties, with plans to expand to other regions.
Educators Call for Program Expansion
Mr. Augustus Weedee, Vice Principal of Keneja High School, who attended with ten students, praised the initiative.
“This program is very beneficial because it helps educate our students on making informed decisions and becoming better leaders. I encourage CHI and its partners to expand this initiative to more schools nationwide. From this program, I believe my students will take the lead in encouraging leadership discussions within our school and community,” he said.
Key Action Points from the Dialogue
Participants drafted a series of Call to Action recommendations, including provision of free sanitary pads in public and private schools to ensure girls remain in school before and during their menstrual cycles; free medical products to help manage severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS); collaboration with the legislature and government stakeholders to pass and implement gender equality laws for improved representation and inclusion; harmonization of gender and child protection policies, ensuring laws protecting adolescent girls are fully enforced and education for both boys and girls on working together to address gender-based challenges in their communities.
This youth-led movement signals a bold step forward in ensuring adolescent voices are heard and their concerns are acted upon by decision-makers.
